Aviator&#39;s belt



Jan. 11, 1949. K W, VARNEY ETAL l 2,458,810

AVIATOR S BELT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 18, 1943 slm www?? mffbing. gl/.LEN

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 11A, 1949 vide the band-'members- 'cfthe-belt With=-improved releasable connecting means; to provide arbuckle on one saidbandememberwhich carr-bevopened and-closedand which Lcan-engage aflo'ckingtongue on Vthe v -other band=member fwhen said buckleis -f either` opened or-"closedgsothat.saidsbandsmemf bers'fcan l beengaged or `disengagedbyusin'gwone hand of the user; to provide awbucklefwwhich: 'can vv'-fbef quicklyk and easily openedin for-der t.to-release f said locking-'tongue ;f to iprovfide thebuckle.: With f a" `catch forv vsaid lockingtong-ue, saidflcatchiI-being movable relative to the operating arm of fthe 'buck1e;-fto provide a-safety buckle which cannot be opened-*by an unlocking?` pull and fto l provide 'viafdevice 'oflsiinple and'lsturdy'constructionfwhose p arts need r1ot'-be1made- -With great Jpreeision.

Other importantv l:Obj ects fof= our'invention twill @be sta-ted in the ann'exedidescription andiY drawings, which iliustra-te a `-preferredfernbo'dinrent thereof.

"Fig,' lnisan end-or topelevationfoi Itheimthe' respective band-members being`r omitted.

` Fig. f 2f is afrontfi elevatio`n,:= envan; `enlarged wsc'ale; 'of' Ithe l-louckle and thenespective adiaoent parts of thebandLmfembe-rs. The. pivotedfa'rms' of the buckle is shown in the closedeorlfoperative position @Fig Sis:` a= section;partially-rim top'fplan;A "on the pivoted arm of the .buck-le is the iclosed tor. op-

wbuckle. .The\broken`lineipositionuotisaid pivoted .a arm= shevvsy the; direction@ inmvvhich-` fsaid pivoted tongue.

Fig. 4 is a section on the lin'e 4-4 of Eig; 3,

e .as 1rotatedninety-degrees clockwise.

,pivoted arrnof the. buckle. Yturned. 180 ,.fromf.: the:Llv

operative position... of ^said arm,..which, is. .shown ber.

in` fulllinesin'Eig. 3.

v"Fig 6 is a' front elevation, showing'the locking tongue4 and a part.ofthe respective bandfi'nem- Fig; '7- is aidetailwtopplan'view;.partially in 4horizontal section,L whichf the f'representation ofi a part for the-'toprw'all of the channel-shaped f'body f Ihas lbeenfomitted, Ushowingf vthe ylcicking tongue inmoperative positio'npande-showing* 'fthe vmckngi: bar.v iturnedecounterclockwise :,111'80" :from L' a its clocking fposition. which :is shown inffull: i lines i, :ini#Big-1.3.`

Fig, 8 is a top or end elevation of Eigi. L 'Figi 9 is. aiperspeptve' viewiof theicatch 10i. the buckle;4 whichsengagesthe locking tongue.

-dFhesdevicegpomprises bandfmembersml, :la- 2 and 2a, Whichaarezmadefof .any suitable eXible xmaterial.

The band-members .lal andif'r have-,respective Inloopsalazsand Silas 4.. and 16.0 .at their :respective f ends.,

r'ihegloopfofA reach. band-member 0;;2 and`.f2a, .bis Ai'formed inf :the l usual ,fmannenz'by L inturning an e endfeportion.; oflithe materialfsof :.fithe :respective fvrbandemei'nber, ands. servings; saidiiinturnedsendportion. tothe body fof thefrespectivez-band-memther.

:Stitches '.i iare...u'sed' :in :forming said-A loopsLAa .andiiillcvI 4, andi 60.

T'T'he construction-of'l each innerrigidfholding- 4^1tonguei isf. generally similar toithefconstruction of the locking-tongue ll,-WhichAisishoWnf-in'iFigs. 'hsand rI. cEach.saidiinner.holding-tongue5 has 25,. ai perforation;- similarto the perforation il 2b g of locking-tongue .I l. i The f-perforati-on #of @Leach :i-hrrldingetongue' 6: may' bencylindrical; instead of -itheV v'reetanguiar s shape of the perforation I 2b. xf'Each `:saidlfinnerf rigid holding-tongue 6*-has an end-bar Which is similar tothef-end-bar Ila olocking-tongfuetmi i.. 'The 1 rigid cylindrical Aushankmof. aheadedlstudi zisflocat'ed inlthe` perfoi ration :Hof veach'inner holding-tongue 6. -'=Said studs 8 are xedto afi-Xed 4support l. Theheads ).ofcsaid.studsll arewsuicientlyv-large tol prevent thes inner holding-tongues? 6 .from`vr slipping- "oi lfsaidustuds.

The respective-endbars ofthe-holding-tongues 6 are respectively turnablyf'retained'inithe re- 40.gspe'ctiveiloopsI 4 andi lla.

"15T-he l device r`is provided:with adjusting buckles 3 3;.fofirany suitable construction. These-adjusting .bucklesS ser-ve# to adjust "thedeng-ths Ioff-hand- .rnernbersl and 2.

Since this invention-is notf directed to any-specific type' fof"-adjustingi-bueklej land Ysince f such adjusting -`bucklesv can"W be omitted ywithout departingj lfrom the invent-ion.- such adjusting bucklesaref not described =in detail-herein.

"Each'saidadjusting bucklef 3 is turnaloly-l'i'eld inl Athe respective loop im vor 60a.

Thenend-'bar l Ia- 'of llockingl1/origine ,l Il isf turnablylfield inloop 9a of band-member I. "i For vcon- .veniencegwthis band-member l is designated as the interlocked band-member; andthe band-'member 2 is designated as the locking band-member. The inwardly turned end-portion of the material of 'the interlocked band-member I is sewed to its body by means of stitches I0, which correspond to stitches 5. Loop 9 is similarly formed in the free end of locking band-member 2.

The rigid abutment plate I2 is turnably held in loop 9. Said rigid abutment plate I2 is rigidly .xed to rear plate I4, by rivets I5 and I5a. Rear plate I4 is made of resilient leather, or other material, rigid or non-rigid.

Abutment plate I2 has a reduced extension I6, which ts between the interior faces of the parallel plates I1 and I8 of a channel-shaped body. Said channel-shaped body has a base I9. Said channel-shaped body is the body of the buckle.

Extension I6 abuts the front face of base I9. Extensions I6 and base I9 are rigidly fixed to each other, by means of rivet 20.

A rigid stop-pin 2| is fixed to the top and bottom walls I1 and I8. For convenience, the device is described in the position in which the parallel walls I1 and I8 are horizontal and the base I9 is vertical.

As shown in Fig. 7, said stop-pin 2| is spaced forwardly from said channel-base I9. The drawings are substantially to scale, and reference is made thereto for further details.

Sail walls I1 and I8 are provided with alined perforations 35 and 35a.

A locking bar 22 is provided at a portion of its length with a top wall 24 and a bottom wall 25. The free end of said bar 22 has an outwardly turned end-portion 22a. The shank of a pivot pin 23, which'has a head at one end theerof, is located in alined perforations 10a, 10b, 10c and 19d respectively of the walls I1, 24, 25 and I8. rIhe bottom end or free end of pivot pin 23 is threaded at 23a, and said threaded end can be provided with a conventional washer or nut W, in order to retain said pivot pin 23 in position. Pivot pin 2'3 can turn in unison with bar 22, or bar 2,2 can turn on pivot pin 23.

The shank of pivot pin 23 is also located in the bore 28 of a catch 21. Said catch 21 is turnable relative to locking bar 22.

Catch 21 is provided with a recess 52, respective planar faces 29 and 53a and a slightly convex end face 30. Said catch 21 has respective edges 32 and 53.

A pin 23a is fixed to locking car 22. Said pin a is located in one end of a, helical compression spring 22h. The other end -of spring 22b is located in recess 52 of catch 21.

Spring 221) biases the catch 21 to turn inwardly and from .bar 22, until the planar face or wall 53a of catch 21 abuts the respective adjacent endwall of locking bar 22. This position of catch 21 is shown in Fig. '1.

Said planar face 53a and the corresponding end-face 22o of bar 22, constitute stop-means or stop-walls for limiting the turning movement of catch 21 relative to bar 22, under the force of the biasing spring 22h. In said abutting position, which is shown in Fig. 1, the effective angle between bar 22 and catch 21 is an acute angle.

A tube26, which has reduced end-portions, is located between and lxed to the parallel side walls or lateral walls 24 and 25 of locking bar 22. Balls 4U and 40a are slidably and turnably retained in the reduced end-portions of tube 2B. A biasing compression spring 33 yieldingly holds said balls 4|] and 40a in the respective positions shown in Fig. 4, in which said respective balls and 40a project partially from the respective` ends of tube 26. Said balls 40 and 40a can be located partially in the bores 35 and 35a of the walls I1 and I8.

The distance between the inner faces of walls I l' and I8, is less than the distance between the opter tips of balls 40 and 40a, when they are in the outermost positions in which said balls 4'0 and 4|)a are yieldingly held by spring 33, when locking bar 22 is^in the position shown in Fig. 5.

When the locking bar 22 is moved to the opera tive position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 3, said balls 40 and 40a. are forced inwardly from their respective outermost positions, by contact with said walls I1 and I8, until said balls 4D and 40a are aligned with perforations 35 and 35a. The spring 33 then snaps the balls 40 and 40a into their holding positions which are shown in Fig. 4, in which said balls 40 and 40a partially enter the perforations 35 and 35a of the walls I1 and I8. The balls 40 and 40a then yieldingly hold the bar 22 in its operative position.

In such operative position, the pin 2| enters the notches N which are provided in the horizontal walls 24 and 25 of bar 22. Pin 2| then abuts the walls of notches N, so that pin 2| limits the inward turning movement of bar 22. In its operative position, the free edges of walls 24 and 25 are spaced from channel-base I9.

Before turning the locking barl 22 to its operative position, the locking-tongue II may be inserted longitudinally between the walls I1 and I8, until the free end of locking-tongue I| abuts the free edge of extension I6. This operative position of locking-tongue is shown in Fig. '7. In

, said position, tongue |I' abuts channel-base I9.

Said tongue II ts closely between walls I1 and I8 While the bar 22 is turned inwardly until balls 40 and 40a enter perforations 35 and 35a, catch 21 is turned in unison with bar 22, towards base I9, with little or no relative turning movement between catch 21 and bar 22.

During said inward turning movement of catch 21 to operative position, it clears the stoppin 2|. In its operative position, the catch 21 enters the perforation |2b of tongue II, thus locking the tongue II to channel-base I9, although there may be some relative movement between tongue Il and channel-base I9, when tongue I'I is in locked position. In its operative position, the planar face 29 abuts or is close to, the channel-base I9.

Bar 22 and -catch 21 can be turned to their respective operative positions before pushing tongue I| into its operative position. When tongue I I is then pushed into operative position, it turns catch 21 towards bar 22, while bar 22 is xed in operative position by the balls 40 and 40a. When the tongue II has been sufficiently inserted between walls I1 and I8, catch 21 is snapped back into operative position by spring 2212.

By turning bar 22 outwardly through a small angle, until balls 40 and 40a clear the walls I1 and I8, the locking tongue |I is wholly released. However, tongue II is securely held in position, while balls 40 and 40a engage the walls of perforations 35and 35a.

When bar 22 and catch 21 are in their respec- .tive operative positions, an unlocking pull on the tongue I I' locks said bar `22 and catch 21 even more securely in their respective operative positions. The catch 21 is inclined in a direction towards the free end 22a of the ,bar 22. Hence ration, said locking-tongue being insertable into said channel-shaped body into a position in which one end of said locking-tongue abuts said stopmember and the free end of said catch enters said perforation, when said bar is in said operative position, said catch, when said locking bar is in said operative position, being inclined rearwardly towards said stop-member.

2. A buckle which comprises a body which has an opening through which a member can be inserted into said body, a locking bar turnably connected to said body, a catch located at the inner face of said locking bar, said catch being turnably associated with said locking bar, biasing means which abut said locking bar and said catch and which bias said catch to turn away from said locking bar and towards said .body when said locking bar is vin operative position, and holding means connected to said body and adapted releasabiy to hold said locking bar in operative position, said catch and said locking bar having cooperating stop means to limit the turning movement of said catch relative to said locking bar under the force of said biasing means, said catch being turnable towards said locking bar, when said locking bar is held by said holding means in operative position, said catchv being shaped to engage said inserted member.

3. A buckle which comprises a body, a locking bar turnably connected to said body, a catch located at the inner face of said locking bar, said catch being turnably associated with said locking bar, biasing means which abut said locking bar and said catch and which bias said catch to turn away from said locking bar and towards said body when said locking bar is in operative position, and holding means connected to said body and adapted releasably to hold said locking bar in operative position, said catch andsaid locking -bar having cooperating stop means to limitthe turning movement of said catch relative to said locking bar under the force of said biasing means, said catch being turnable towards said locking bar when said locking bar is held by said holding means in operative position, said holding means slipping to release said locking bar when said locking bar is urged to turn away from said body under manual pressure, and stop means adapted to limit the turning movement of said locking bar out of said operative position in a direction towards said body.

4. A buckle which comprises a body which has an opening through which a member can be inserted into said body, a locking =bar turnably connected to said body, a catch located at the inner face of said locking bar, said catch being turnably associated with said locking bar, biasing means which abut said locking bar and said catch and which bias said catch to turn away from said locking bar and towards said body when said locking bar is in operative position, and holding means connected to said body and adapted releasably to hold said locking bar in operative position, said catch and said locking bar having cooperating stop means to limit the turning movement of said catch relative to said locking bar under the force of said biasing means, said catch being turnable towards said locking bar when said locking bar is in operative position, the free end of said catch abutting said Ibody and said catch making an acute angle with said locking bar and being inclined towards the free end of said locking bar when said locking bar is in operative position, said eat-eh being rshaped to engage said inserted member.

' away from said locking bar and towards said body when said locking bar is in operative position, saidcatch engaging said engagement portion of said rigid tongue when said locking bar and said catch are in operative position so as then to prevent the separation of said rigid tongue from said body, and holding means connected to said body and adapted to hold said locking bar inoperative position, said body having rigid stop means which prevent said tongue from tilting sufficiently relative to said body to exert unlocking force on said locking bar.

6. In combination, a belt which has a rigid tongue, said tongue having an engagement portion, a buckle which has a body, a locking bar turnably connected to said body, a catch located at the inner face of said bar, said catch making an angle with said bar, said catch and said bar being turnable in unison relativ-e to said body, said catch engaging said engagement portion of said rigid tongue when said locking bar and said catch are in operative position so as then to prevent the separation of said tongue from said body, and holding means connected to said body and adapted releasably to hold said locking bar in operative position, said body having rigid stop means which prevent said tongue from tilting sufficiently relative to said body to exert unlocking force on said locking bar.

7. A buckle which comprises a body which has a base and parallel walls which project `from said base1 a locking bar turnably connected to said body, andA a catch located at the inner face of vsaid locking bar, said catch and said locking bar being turnable in unison relative to said body, said walls having aligned perforations, said bar having spring-biased catches which are located partially to enter said perforations when the locking bar and said catch are in respective final operative positions, said catch then being located to engage a tongue which is located removably in said body, said catch also being located to engage said tongue when said tongue and said locking bar are in advance of said respective iinal positions and said catches abut imperforate portions of said walls.

' Number KENNETH W. VARNEY. HAROLD D. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED rlhe following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

